Draft attachment for railway cars or the like



Nov. 11, 1941.

H. H. WOLFE 2,262,076

DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR RAI LWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 12, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 11, 1941. H. H. WOLFE A I DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1939 H. H. WOLFE Nov. 11, 1941.

DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 12, 1939 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Harry H. Wolfe, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus,

Ohio

Application August 12, 1939, Serial No. 289,843

13 Claims. (Cl. 10 -420) I the front ends of the ribs 9 This invention relates to improvements in draft attachments for railway cars and the like, and more particularly to improvements in the draft attachments disclosed in the application of George T. Johnson, Serial No. 193,783, filed March 3, 1938.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a novel draft attachment structure hav--' ing a considerable saving in weight over the conventional riveted construction, either in grade B steel or high tensile steel.

Another object is to furnish a strong and durable draft attachment which eliminates plates heretofore employed, and therefore not only reduces weight but economizes on the time and the cost of welding.

A still further object is to supply a skeleton draft attachment including a bolster center filler designed to facilitate welding.

Another object is to provide a draft attachment so designed as to permit welding lugs to be secured to the webs of the center sills, such lugs filling partial slots in the castings.

Having now indicated in a general way the nature and purpose of the invention, I will proceed to a detail description thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I Fig. 1 is a top plan view partly in longitudinal horizontal section of the casting forming the bolster center filler.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in transverse vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view partly in horizontal section, and showing my improved striker casting and bolster center filler attached to the center sills.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 4. I

Fig. 6 is an end view of the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5, partially in transverse vertical section.

Referring first to the combined bolster center filler and rear draft lug casting shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 designates the spaced vertical front walls of the casting which are of the full height of the casting, such walls being spaced apart and arranged at opposite sides of the pocket 8.

Such walls are connected to opposite top longitudinal horizontal ribs 9 by transverse ribs II] which incline downwardly and forwardly from have illustrated a preferred embodiment, and in r and merge into the upper rear portion of. the walls 1. Each rib. I0 is reinforced by an upwardly extending rib H and a downwardly extending rib I2, the rib H merging into a front wall 1 and the rib l2 merging into the vertical cross tie l3 arranged at the rear of the pocket.

v Rearwardly of the cross tie, the casting has transversely extending vertical ribs [4, l5"and I6 which merge at their lower ends into a horizontal plate H, the latter being arranged at the middleof the casting and positioned above a similar bottom plate 18. 'I'hecentral portion of these plates are connectedtogether by aking pin sleeve 19 from which radiates a forwardly extending] rib 20, a rearwardly extending rib 2|, andtransverse ribs 22. The front end of. the

.rib 29 merges into a transverse vertical wall 23, ,and the rib 2| merges at its rear end into. a

transverse vertical back wall 24.

A longitudinal medial rib 25 is 'providediat each side of the castingand merges at itsfront end into the medial portion of a wall I, while its rear end merges into the plate 11.

Upwardly and downwardly projecting flanges 26 and 21 are arranged along the inner edge portion of each rib 25 for reinforcing purposes, and partial side walls 28 are arranged at the outer edge portions of the ribs 25 and merge into- .the walls I for reinforcing purposes. Each partial wallhas notches'or partial slots 29 and 30 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Bottom ribs 3| extend forwardly and upwardly.

from the wall 23 to the front'walls I, and each rib 3| is reinforced by a downwardly extending flange 32 and an upwardly extendingfflange 33,

the former merging into one of the front walls and extending substantially the full length of therib 3|. i Rearwardly and upwardly extending ribs 33a join the rear wall 24 to the top ribs 9, and the ribs 330: at the oppositefsides of the casting are rigidly united by a rear tie bar 34.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have indicated the manner in which such casting is welded to' the center sills 35. As may be seen from these'figure's, the notches 29 and 30 receive relatively thick lugs 36 and 31 formed of welding'metal which is secured to the side walls of the sills 35. a

Each rib or flange II is weld-ed to the top of a center sillby a line .of welding 38 extending from a wall I to the rear of the gear pocket. Another line of welding 39 connects the side edge of the bottom of the rib '10 to a side wall of a center sill. A b-rokenline of welding!!! connects the bottom of each of the medial ribs 25 to a side wall of a center sill. .A fillet weld 4| connects the lower portion of each wall 1 to a center sill, and the fillet weld extends rear- I4 and transverse wall 23 to the side walls of the Still other lines of welds 46 secure center sills. the side edges of the ribs 6 and .rear transverse wall '24 to the side walls of the center sills. Welds 41 and 48 secure the outer edges of the} inclined ribs 33a to the side walls of the center sills. Welds I3a secure the lateral edges of the tie bar 13 to the sills.

, Tests on myimproved design of casting and "-weldflocation have proved that the new conis truc'ti onj. is considerably stronger than those Sh'eretofore' known, as the welds are now placed in compression and shearinstead of tension and bending, "and withstand dynamic shocks to better advantage. I Previous designs of center fillers have hadlugs i'jcast on the sides which extend through slots in 'theJsills, and are then welded from the exterior er the latter. This'method of attaching the casting to the'sills has thev disadvantage'of'neces'sitating slotting and weakening of the sills, 1 and the difficulty of removing the casting from ithe' sills if damaged by heavy bufling forces.

' ,The new method of substantially welding lugs on the webs of. the sills, filling partial slots or 'notchesfZQ, 30 in the casting, eliminates the 1 above disadvantages and in addition, thebuffing ."forces on the draft lugs are distributedfmore di- 40 ,rectly ,to the sills. I s

Asillustrated in. Figs. and 6, the use of f njotches or partial slots is ofadvantage in welding a striker casting 49 to the side Walls of the sills,

and as shown. in Fig. 4,'each'notch 50 or apart of a {each slotl is filled witha lug 52 of welding I "metalemployedin securing the casting firmlyto the side walls of the sills.

*Whilel 'have disclosed what I now consider to "be"a preferred embodiment of my invention in bdchmanner that'the same maybe readily understood bythose skilled in the-art, I-am aware that changes maybe "made in the details dis- 'cloi sed, without departing from the spirit of the invention; as expressed'in the claims. I s

a What I "claim and desire to secure by Letters 'Ba s: 2 I i "'1.- In a draft structurefor railway cars'or-the 'like, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical walls, a metal skeletal casting ex- 60 tending between said walls, said casting being devoid of sidewalls except, at one of its end porf'tions, the side walls of the casting being provided with relatively deep notches, and lugsof welding metaloccupying said notches'and'securing said oasting to the walls of the center sills.

-'2.' In a draft structure for railway cars or the like, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical walls, a skeletal cast'metal combined bolster center filler and rear'draft lug unit positioned between said walls, saidunit being devdid of sidewalls except atits front end-portion and'liaving a-multiplicity of opposite-side edge "portions formed by substantially vertical transver'seribsand substantially horizontally disposed ribs terminating at the inner surface of the walls of the center sills and being secured thereto by welded joints, co-planar spaced vertical front walls arranged at the forward end of the unit and merging into the side walls of the latter, the side walls of the unit being provided with relatively deep notches, and lugs of welding metal occupying said notches and securing said unit to the walls of the center sills.

3. In a draft structure for railway cars or the like, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical walls, a skeletal cast metal combined bolster center filler and rear draft lug unit positioned between said walls, said unit being delongitudinal ribs, theouter edge portionsxofls'aid void of side walls except at its front end portion and having a multiplicity of side edge portions formed by substantially vertical transverse ribs and substantially horizontally disposed longitudinal ribs, the outer edge portions of said ribs terminating at the inner surface of the Walls of the center sills and being secured thereto by ,Welded joints, spaced vertical front walls ar- -ranged at the forward end=of theunit and merging into'the side walls of the unit, a pocket arranged at the front end of the casting between said vertical walls, and upwardly and rearwardly inclined ribs extending from said front walls to certain of saidsubstantially horizontally disposed longitudinal ribs.

and substantially horizontally disposed longitudinal ribs, the outer edge .portions of said ribs terminatingat the'inner surface of the walls of the center sills and .being secured thereto by welded joints, spaced vertical front walls arranged at the forward end .of .the .unit andmerg- .ing into the side walls of the unit, a pocket arranged at the front end of the casting between said vertical walls, upwardly and rearwardly inclined ,ribs 'extending'from said front walls to certain of said substantially horizontally disposed longitudinal ribs, and upwardly extending reinforcing flanges arranged at the inner ed'gepor- .tions .of said inclined ribs and'merging intosaid front walls.

5. In a draft structure for railway cars or the 'like, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical .walls, a skeletal cast metal combined bolster center filler and rear draft lug ,unit positioned between said Walls, said unit beingdejvoid of sidewalls except at its front end portion and having amultiplicity 'of side edge portions formed by substantially Vertical transverse. ribs and substantially horizontally disposed longitudinal ribs, theouter edgeportionsof said ribs terminatingat .tliednner surface of the walls of =thecenter sills and being secured thereto by welded joints, spaced vertical front walls arrangedat the forward end of theunit and'merging into; the side walls of the unit, a pocket arranged at the front end ofthe casting between said vertical-walls, upwardly and rearwardly inclined ribs extending from-said front walls to certain of said substantially horizontally disposed longitudinal ribs, and downwardly extending flanges arranged atthe inner edge portions of .said Qinclined ribs .and :merging into said "front walls.

In a draft; structure for railway cars or 'the like, .center. sills having spaced parallel substantiallyi'vertica'l walls, a skeletal cast metal combined'bolster center filler and rear draft lug unit positioned between said walls, said unit beingdevoid of side walls except at its front end portion and having'a multiplicity of opposite side edge portions formed by transverse ribs, the outer edge portions of said ribs terminating at the inner surfaces of the walls-of the sills, certain of said edge portions being secured to the inner surfaces of the walls of the sills by welded joints, a pocket positioned at the front end portion of the unit, a transverse tie bar extending across the unit at the rear of said pocket, co-planar spaced vertical front walls arranged at the front end of the unit and merging into the side walls of the unit, upwardly and forwardly inclined bottom flanges merging at their front ends into said front walls and at their rear ends into certain of said translike, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical walls, a skeletal cast metal combined bolster center filler and rear draft lug unit positioned between said walls, said unit being devoid of side walls except at its front end portion and having a multiplicity of opposite side edge portions formed by transverse ribs, the outer edge portions of said ribs terminating at the inner surface of the walls of the sills, certain of said edge portions being secured to the inner surfaces of the walls of the sills by welded joints, a pocket positioned at the front end portion of the unit, a transverse tie bar extending across the unit at the rear of said pocket, co-planar spaced vertical front walls arranged at the front end of the unit and merging into the side walls of the unit, upwardly and forwardly inclined bottom flanges merging at their front ends into said front walls and at their rear ends into certain of said transverse ribs, and fillet welds joining the side edges of said inclined ribs to the inner surfaces of the side walls of the sills, each fillet weld extending from one of the front walls rearwardly and gradually decreasing in thickness from said front wall rearwardly.

8. In a draft structure for railway cars or the like, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical walls, a skeletal cast metal combined bolster center filler and rear draft lug unit positioned between said walls, said unit being devoid of side walls except at its front end portion and having a multiplicity of opposite side edge portions formed by transverse ribs and terminating at the inner surfaces of said walls, certain of said edge portions being welded to the inner surface of said walls, co-planar spaced vertical front walls arranged at the front end of the unit and merging into the side walls of the unit, the side walls of the unit being provided with relatively deep notches, lugs of welded metal secured to said sills and substantially filling said notches, and upwardly and rearwardly inclined ribs extending rearwardly from the upper portions of said front walls and merging into certain of said transverse ribs.

9. In a draft structure for railway cars or the like, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical walls, a skeletal cast metal combined bolster center filler and rear draft lug unit positioned between said walls, said unit being devoid of side walls except at its front end portion and having a multiplicity-of opposite side edge portions formed by'transverse ribs, the-outer edge portions of said ribs terminating at the inner surface of the walls of the sills, certain'of said edge'portions being secured to the inner surfaces of the walls of the sills by welded joints, a pocket positioned at the front end portion of the unit, a transverse tie bar extendingacross the unit at the rear of said pocket, co-planar spaced vertical front walls arranged at the front end of "the unit and merging into the side walls of the unit, upwardly and forwardly inclined bottom flanges merging at their front ends into said front walls and at their rear ends into certain ofsaid transverse ribs, fillet welds joining the side edges of said inclined ribs to the inner surfaces of the side walls of the sills, each fillet weld extending from one of the front walls rearwardly and gradually decreasing in thickness from said front wall rearwardly, and upwardly and downwardly projecting flanges arranged at the inner edge portions of said inclined ribs.

10. In a draft structure for railway cars or the like, center sills having spaced parallel substantially vertical walls, a skeletal cast metal combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit posii tioned between said walls, said unit being devoid of side walls except at its front end portion, and comprising a central box-like portion having a king pin sleeve, transverse walls forming part of the unit and arranged forwardly and rearwardly of said sleeve, said transverse walls having side edge portions terminating at the inner surfaces of the walls of the sills and welded thereto, longitudinal medial ribs extending forwardly from the upper end of one of said walls and having side edge portions welded to the inner surfaces of the walls of said sills, upper substantially horizontal longitudinal ribs having side edge portions welded to said sills, and spaced vertical front and comprising a central box-like portion having a king pin sleeve, transverse walls forming part of the unit and arranged forwardly and rearwardly of said sleeve, said transverse walls having side edge portions terminating at the inner surfaces of the walls of the sills and welded thereto, longitudinal medial ribs extending forwardly from the upper end of one of said walls and having side edge portions welded to the inner surfaces of the walls of said sills, upper substantially horizontal longitudinal ribs having side edge portions welded to said sills, spaced vertical front walls merging into said ribs, and upwardly and forwardly inclined bottom ribs connecting one of the first-mentioned transverse walls to said front walls.

12. In a railway car, an integrally formed center sill reinforcing skeletal casting comprising a central box-like portion with a king pin sleeve and cored out opposite side walls, and vertically arranged front and rear end portions adapted to be welded to a structural steel member forming the center sill of the car, each of the front end portions being provided with a vertical front wall from which substantially horizontal ribs extend rearwardly to said central boxlike portion, each front end portion being devoid oft-a side wall except adjacent to said vertical front wall, and atie bar connecting the rear end portions of the casting. 1-. J

- 13. In a railway car, an integrally formed cen-.

ter sill reinforcing skeletal casting comprising i a central box-like portion witha king pin sleeve and cored out opposite side walls, and vertically arranged front and rear end portions adapted to bewelded to a structural steel member form-- ing the center sill of the car, each of said front 10 

